Great strides

Jan 9 2003 By Christopher Beesley

ATHLETICS: HOSTS West Cheshire AC retained two team titles and grabbed a fistful of individual medals on Sunday in the Cheshire County AA Cross Country Championships at Vauxhall Motors Sports and Social Club.

Duncan Bell spearheaded WCAC's gold medal-winning men's team after completing the 10.2km course in 12th position in a time of 37min 59sec.

Ken Begley (19th in 39:27), Graham Jenkins (22nd in 39:50), Graham Earlam (32nd in 40:44), Dave Tiernan (44th in 42:39) and Paul Price (45th in 42:41) all helped the hosts clinch top spot to retain the title they won at Town Park, Runcorn last year.

Sarah Radcliff pointed West Cheshire AC's U11 girls to a team success grabbing third position after posting a time of 7:48 around the 1.8km course.

Sarah was joined by fifth-placed Danielle Bentley who clocked 8:09 and Gemma Mayled (7th in 8:20) to clinch the team title and were supported by Kristy Bell (9th in 8:49); and Bethany Mellor (13th in 9:09).

WCAC's U11 boys' team of James Ellis (3rd in 11:25), Aiden Stoakley (8th in 12:19), and Michael Heighway (10th in 12:39) collected silver team medals and were joined by Matthew Justice (22nd in 16:44).

Graham Jenkins pointed the veteran men to silver by finishing seventh and was supported by Graham Earlam (11th), Paul Price (18th) and Dave Fisher (23rd).

Charlotte Roach (9th in 12:00), Emma-Leigh Heighway (16th in 12:57) and Catriona Boyd (20th in 13:46), secured U15 girls bronze team medals and were joined by Tricia Jackson (22nd in 14:22), Lauren Hunt (24th in 14:56) and Amanda Scott (25th in 14:57).

Laura Bestow secured bronze medal in the U17 ladies' race after completing the 4.3km course in a time of 16:53.

Kerry Riley clocked 11:35 for 11th spot in the U13 girls' race measuring 2.6km ahead of team-mates Ruth Pritchard (20th in 12:05) and Karin Svensson (23rd in 12:16).

Tim Wilderspin (10th in 17:49); Jason McGonigle (15th in 20:06) and Carl van Schie (16th in 20:56) contributed to the U15 boys' team finishing fourth.

Tom Lowndes (11th in 11:03), Sean Boyd (12th in 11:12) and Andrew Stothart (16th in 11:27) earned the U13 boys fourth place alongside Jeremy Stothart (23rd in 12:53) and Andrew Whitton (25th in 13:59).

Meanwhile, Sharon Bell completed the 6.4km course in 30th place for a time of 39:34.